Societies experiencing or recovering from violent conflict must often deal with the legacy of difficult historical events, such as civil war, genocide, exploitation of minority groups and various other forms of violence. Difficult questions arise about whether and how to represent and commemorate such events in a way that reflects the experiences and interests of various, often competing, societal factions, which is further complicated in an increasingly interconnected world. These questions about historical responsibility, commemoration and justice often serve as a barrier to reconciliation, and failure to effectively address them can spark social dissatisfaction, polarization and violence.
Guiding Questions
RCID Lab’s guiding questions for difficult heritage and reconciliation include:
- How can memory sites and monuments representing difficult heritage be designed to promote reconciliation in conflict-affected contexts?
- How can diverse communities be engaged in the design and development of memory sites?
- What are different forms of memory activism and how do they contribute to conflict or reconciliation?